NATO sends frigates, fighter jets, and troops to 'deter' Russia
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European countries send different military reinforcements to Ukraine and claim they fear a Russian "invasion".
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Ukrainian and American troops during a training at the Yavoriv training center in Lviv Oblast, Ukraine, on Nov. 24, 2018
As tensions brew against the backdrop of allegations that Moscow will invade Ukraine (which Moscow repeatedly has been denying), Britain said it will withdraw some of its diplomats from Kiev and Ireland denounced any Russian military activity on its coast as "unwelcome".
NATO's announcement is one of many of its attempts at pushing its rhetoric in the information war against Russia.
There are around 100,000 Russia troops on the Ukrainian border, as Moscow demanded that NATO would not grant Ukraine permission to join the alliance in addition to other actions, such as the reduction in alliance troops number in former Soviet countries.
Read more: Russia: West claims on Ukraine invasion is a "cover for large-scale provocations"
On Monday, NATO said it will ramp up its "deterrence" in the Baltic Sea: Denmark has sent a frigate and F-16 fighter jets to Lithuania, Spain has sent 4 fighter jets to Bulgaria and 3 ships to the Black Sea. France, furthermore, is on standby to send troops to Romania, while Holland plans to send 2 F-35 jets to Bulgaria.
Read more: Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania awaiting US approval to send arms to Ukraine: Reports
Dmitry Peskov, Kremlin Spokesperson, contended that NATO and the US are behind the escalating tensions in Europe, and not Moscow.
“All this is happening not because of what we, Russia, are doing. This is happening because of what NATO, the US are doing,” Peskov said. The Spokesperson mentioned Washington's reports about Russia evacuating its diplomats in Ukraine, which Moscow denied.
The European Union, on the other hand, said they will be increasing financial support to Ukraine, providing $1.4 billion in loans and grants.
Divisions within the European Union
About 40% of Europe's natural gas comes from Russia, through pipelines in Ukraine. As prices soar, there are growing concerns about a cut-off of Russian gas supply, especially during a piercing winter.
Germany and France have been treading cautiously: On Saturday, the Head of the German Navy, Kay-Achim Schoenbach, lodged in his resignation after saying that Ukraine will not be reclaiming the Crimean Peninsula, saying that Putin deserves respect.
Macron, also, has been attempting to revive an EU summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin - calls that have been previously rejected.
On the other hand, sanctions may be cooking at the EU's executive arm, the European Comission.
EU renews sanctions on Russia over 'situation in Ukraine'
The EU officially extended the economic sanctions against Russia until July 31, 2022, the bloc's council said in a statement two weeks ago.
"The Council today decided to prolong the restrictive measures currently targeting specific economic sectors of the Russian Federation by six months, until 31 July 2022," the statement read.
Allegedly, the decision follows the latest assessment of the state of implementation of the Minsk agreements signed in 2015 at the European Council of December 16, 2021.
The sanctions had first been introduced against Moscow on July 31, 2014, when the EU accused Russia of "destabilizing the situation in Ukraine. They limit access to EU primary and secondary capital markets for certain Russian banks and companies."
The punitive measures prohibit forms of financial assistance and brokering toward Russian financial institutions, in addition to prohibiting both direct and indirect import, export, or transfer of any defense equipment in the interest of Russia.
